Balambalam Primary School takes its name from the Boonwurrung word for butterfly or moth.
Written by: Vibhika Valimbie, Access Consultant at Architecture & Access
Architecture & Access was engaged by K2LD Architects on the Balambalam Primary School project, funded by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA), to provide access consulting services throughout the design and delivery of the project.
This school forms part of a bundle of schools funded by the VSBA. The school model utilises a series of typical building designs that are adapted across various sites, while the landscape and external environments are uniquely designed to respond to the specific characteristics and requirements of each location.
The school supports a diverse range of teaching and learning activities both within the buildings and throughout the broader campus. Externally, interactive play areas have been incorporated using landscape and hardscape elements, creating opportunities for engagement, exploration and learning.
Architecture & Access worked alongside the design consultant team from the schematic design stage through to construction. Throughout the project, a range of architectural and landscape features were assessed against relevant accessibility legislation, as well as the access requirements outlined in the VSBA’s Building Quality Standards Handbook.
The various teaching and learning buildings provide a range of flexible and adaptable spaces, including general learning areas, workshop spaces, a community hub with indoor and outdoor courts for a variety of activities, and an administration building incorporating staff support spaces and first aid facilities. The learning environments have been designed with flexibility in mind, allowing furniture and layouts to be adapted to support different teaching methods and learning needs.
Accessibility and inclusion were considered at every stage of the design process and extended to the smallest details. Flexible and height-adjustable furniture was incorporated to accommodate students and teachers with varying needs. Joinery was carefully designed to improve usability, with features such as knee clearances beneath counters to facilitate access to sinks, taps and other amenities.
The design also considered a diverse range of user requirements through the inclusion of both non-gendered facilities and gendered compartments, providing greater flexibility and choice for students, staff and visitors.
A thoughtful selection of colours and materials assists with wayfinding and spatial identification throughout the school. Contrasting furniture colours, used in preference to contrasting building elements, help define circulation routes and improve navigation for students and teachers with vision impairment.
To support users with hearing impairments, the buildings have been equipped with portable hearing augmentation systems. This flexible approach allows the systems to be utilised both within the buildings and in external learning environments, ensuring greater accessibility across a variety of teaching and learning activities.
Balambalam Primary School demonstrates that inclusion is often found in the smallest details. Through the careful consideration of access and inclusion across all aspects of the project, the school provides greater flexibility and independence for people with disability, recognising that accessibility extends well beyond physical mobility and encompasses the diverse needs of all users.
Image 1. (feature) External areas have been thoughtfully designed with a combination of landscape and hardscape elements, providing accessible and level pathways to and throughout the various outdoor spaces
Image 2. A sensory and quiet retreat within the school provides children with a comfortable and calming space to relax, regulate and take time away from the activity of the broader learning environment.
Image credit: Tom Roe Photography
